After decades of performing liposuction surgery, I know without a doubt that the procedure is highly effective and can be an incredibly powerful tool for people trying to finally be rid of stubborn, diet-resistant fat. However, long-term happiness and satisfaction with a cosmetic procedure like liposuction is subjective and dependent on several factors. Chief among these factors is each patient’s expectations regarding their surgery and results. Today I wanted to go into more detail about realistic expectations for liposuction and what the procedure is capable of.
Liposuction is a body contouring procedure where small pockets of fat are surgically removed from the body in order to provide a more trim and defined physique. I emphasize the words “body contouring” to reinforce that liposuction is not a weight loss surgery and considerable weight loss is not a result that patients should count on. As far as how much fat patients can have removed during the surgery, that depends on the specific areas being treated and how much fat is found within them. Generally, somewhere between 1 and 10 pounds of fat will be removed during liposuction depending on the person’s size and how much I can safely remove in one surgery. Some patients may opt for 360 liposuction, which takes a 360-degree approach to body sculpting by safely removing fat from several areas around the midsection including the abdomen, flanks (or love handles), and back.
In the following below, I go into more detail about liposuction surgery and what patients can and should realistically expect from the procedure:
Realistic expectations should not by any means mean low expectations. Liposuction can be incredibly powerful for anyone trying to feel better about themselves and their appearance. For more information on liposuction or other cosmetic procedures that I perform, please contact me, Dr. David Whiteman, at Southern Plastic Surgery. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for additional videos, news, and much more.